# A good, free virus scanner?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 25, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938 "2004-04-25T18:06:52Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938/1 "2004-04-25T18:06:52Z")

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Where can I get a good (but free) virus scanner? The family computer is going wonky and running terribly slow. Adaware has only found the usual tracking cookies and such.

So say thee, Dopers?

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**Author:** ![liirogue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/dbc845/32.png) [@liirogue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/liirogue)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938/2 "2004-04-25T18:08:15Z")

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> [@liirogue](#):
>
> So say thee, Dopers?

Preview preview preview!

So **what** say thee, Dopers! :o

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**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938/3 "2004-04-25T18:16:39Z")

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> **[The Antivirus Revolution - Panda Security](https://www.pandasecurity.com/?ref=www.pandasoftware.com%2Factivescan%2Fcom%2F)**
>
> The best antivirus protection for all your devices: Don't be a target! Join the next generation of digital protection

[PC Matic® with SuperShield](http://www.pcpitstop.com/antivirus/default.asp)

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**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938/4 "2004-04-25T18:29:45Z")

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> **[AVG Free Antivirus Download | Virus Protection Software](https://www.avg.com/en-us/free-antivirus-download)**
>
> Download FREE AVG antivirus software. Get protection against viruses, malware and spyware. Easy-to-use virus scanner for PC, Mac & mobile. Download TODAY.

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**Author:** ![RandomLetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8edcca/32.png) [@RandomLetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RandomLetters)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938/5 "2004-04-25T18:44:01Z")

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[Avast](http://www.avast.com/i_kat_6.html) is a pretty good one, or go with AVG mentioned above.

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**Author:** ![Eurograff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Eurograff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eurograff)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938/6 "2004-04-25T19:18:43Z")

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[AntiVir](http://www.free-av.com/) is what I use. Updates quite often though may be a bit unstable on some machines. The alternatives mentioned above should be pretty good too.

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**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2004, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-good-free-virus-scanner/241938/7 "2004-04-25T21:14:53Z")

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I tried installing Avast! and uninstalled it because my spyware detector came up with a keylogger program on it.

For those of you who use AVG, how the hell are you supposed to update the free version? I have downloaded (through the program and the web site) the files necessary and the damn thing says that the update is complete, but the control panel still says that the newest update is from when I downloaded the program. Any advice?